Maynard M. Tjepkes died Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at Austin Medical Center following a lengthy illness with bladder cancer.
Maynard Martin Tjepkes was born June 10, 1935, in Rochester, Minn., to Albert and Myrtle (Kliest) Tjepkes. He grew up on the family farm in rural Stewartville and attended rural schools. He was employed at Libby, Libby and McNeil Co. in Rochester before earning his journeyman’s license for carpentry. He moved to Denver, Colo., where he was employed as a carpenter before
Returning to Rochester in 1965, he was employed as a carpenter on the construction of the Mayo Clinic building. In 1969, Maynard started Tjepkes Builders in Rochester and built many homes in and around the Rochester area. He was married on Jan. 31, 1976, to Anita (Godsil) Sharar at Sumner Center.
Survivors include two sons, Larry(Kris) of Elgin, Minn., Darold (Dorothy) Sharar of Rochester, Minn.; five daughters, Gail (Jim) McMahon of Wapelo, Iowa, Kim (Bill) Ellis of Wallingford, Iowa, Debra (Lon) Herian of Edina, Minn., Darcy (Lewis) Howard of Sheboygan,Wis., Koleen Saifa-Bonsu of Hopkins, Minn.; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; his mother, Myrtle Tjepke of Spring Valley, Minn.; four brothers, Charles (Helga) Tjepke of Wykoff, Minn., Gerald (Jan) Tjepke of Racine, Minn., Don (Joy) Tjepkes of Littleton, Colo., Bill (Sylvie) Tjepjes of Denver, Colo.; four sisters, Sharon Ellis of Denver, Colo., Linda (Dave) Rollie of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Judy (Dean) Skifter of Grand Meadow, Minn., Cathy (Dave) Bakken of Rochester, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his father, Albert, and a sister and brother-in-law, Lavonne and Leonard Bucholtz; and son-in-law, David Atkinson.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 9, 2010, in United Methodist Church in Stewartville, Minn. with Rev. Sherry Mason officiating. Burial will be in Grandview memorial gardens in Rochester, Minn. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 7, at Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday morning.
Griffin-Gray F.H. is handling the arrangements.